September 13, 2002 - Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty says he's running for the job he's always wanted. But Pawlenty's road to the governor's race has taken a few twists and turns. The House Majority Leader dropped out of the race four years ago and considered running for the U.S. Senate this year, before a call from Vice President Dick Cheney changed his mind. During his ten years in the Legislature, Pawlenty has developed a reputation as an able leader and a quick wit, but critics say he moved to the right to get his party's support this year. In the latest in our series of gubernatorial candidate profiles, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum has this look at Tim Pawlenty...
September 15, 2002 - On this American RadioWorks special radio report, “Nature's Revenge - Louisiana's Vanishing Wetlands” looks at a region of the United States that is crumbling and sinking into the sea. Scientists say it's causing one of the worst and least-publicized environmental disasters in America's history. As Daniel Zwerdling reports for NPR News and ARW, there's a moral to this story: when humans try to outwit nature, it can strike back with a vengeance.
September 16, 2002 - Northwest Airlines has yet to emerge from the perilous downturn in the travel industry, though the airline is performing better than most of its peers. Flights are filling up, but Northwest is flying fewer planes, and making less money off their once all important business travelers. Now analysts say the Eagan-based airline may soon ask its employees to help it avoid sinking any further. But the airline's unions say they don't trust Northwest's management, and they will resist giving back what they call hard-won wages and benefits. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
September 17, 2002 - (NOTE: HOST OUTCUE) The governor's race is locked in a virtual three-way tie between DFLer Roger Moe, Republican Tim Pawlenty, and Independence Party candidate Tim Penny. A new poll from Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows the three clumped tightly together as the campaigns head into the final two months of the election. Green Party candidate Ken Pentel trailed a distant fourth -- and is in danger of losing major party status for the Greens. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
September 17, 2002 - The walleye were biting on Lake Mille Lacs this year like no time anyone can remember. Record numbers of anglers headed to the big lake to get in on the action. The result was serious overfishing. Indian conservation officials say the Department of Natural Resources let non-tribal anglers take too many fish. Officials with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa wanted the DNR to stop the fishing on Mille Lacs. The DNR and the bands have been negotiating for months. But now they say talking things out has failed. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports the bands and the DNR are headed for mediation.
September 24, 2002 - The four major party candidates for Governor held a debate in front of a business-minded audience today (TUESDAY) in St. Cloud. The candidates pushed issues important to areas outside the metro; access to health care, business development and the state's budget. But the candidates hit on one issue several times, transportation. The candidates said traffic congestion across much of the state will get worse in the future. But each one offers a different solution to the problem.
September 25, 2002 - Governor Jesse Ventura is en route to Cuba today. Ventura will spend the next three days participating in the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition in Havana. The governor and leaders from several prominent Minnesota companies say the island nation presents a new market for the state's farmers -- but Ventura's visit has drawn criticisms from Bush administration officials who say he's only lending legitimacy to Fidel Castro's government. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo is traveling with Ventura. He prepared this report.
October 2, 2002 - Northwest Airlines says it will cut up to 1600 flight attendant jobs, because of a continuing slowdown in air travel after last year's terrorist attacks. Northwest says it expects about 500 actual layoffs by years end. Company officials say they hope a voluntary leave program will reduce the number of layoffs. However, the flight attendants union says the leave program is much less attractive than a program established a year ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 2, 2002 - Two Minnesota-based companies are on BusinessWeek magazine's list of the nation's top ten corporate boards. The magazine gives the boards of Medtronic and 3M high marks for independence, accountability and quality. By comparison, Apple, Xerox and Gap all made the "worst" list. And the magazine reserved companies like Enron, Tyco and Worldcom for a brand new category called the "Hall of Shame." Business Week Management Editor Louis Lavelle says 3M and Medtronic are both newcomers to the "best" list:
October 3, 2002 - All 29 West Coast seaports remain closed as longshoremen and management have failed to end an almost weeklong lockout. Minnesota companies that depend on the ports say they were prepared for the closures. And most businesses say they'll be OK if the lockout ends soon. But a long lock out could present problems. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg has more.